**Boom...**
It happened without a moment's notice. Ren, who had assumed his [Beast Form] and taken on the fiery visage of a unicorn, raced across the ocean's surface with wild abandon.
In the distance, the sounds of cannon fire reverberated through the air, prompting Ren to instinctively halt and scan the horizon.
"Huh?" he mumbled, squinting at the distant sea.
What he saw was a colossal pirate ship, its sails billowing in the wind, relentlessly chasing a much smaller sailboat with unwavering determination. The thunderous barrage of cannon fire continued unabated, a testament to the pirates' unwavering pursuit.
On the minuscule sloop, barely a few meters long and designed for just a handful of people, a faint yet striking figure stood at the helm. With exceptional skill, she deftly navigated the vessel, narrowly avoiding cannonballs with each passing second. Occasionally, an artillery shell would impact the water, creating a dramatic splash, but it consistently missed its mark. Despite the perilous chase, the small sailboat kept gaining speed, expertly riding the undulating sea currents in an attempt to outdistance its pursuers.
Ren observed the scene from above, having transformed into a unicorn. From his elevated vantage point, he arched an intrigued eyebrow and muttered, "Fascinating, aside from Naomi, I didn't expect to find such exceptional navigational skills in these waters."
His own near-death experience at sea had left an indelible mark, making him apprehensive about the open ocean. To prevent a recurrence, Ren had diligently studied navigation under the tutelage of Nami, the Straw Hats' renowned navigator. He had even gone as far as hiring a tutor to teach him how to craft log poses in Alabasta.
However, he was keenly aware that navigating the Grand Line, a treacherous sea with unpredictable weather and currents, required unique talents and considerable expertise. Despite months of relentless study and practice, he knew that he was nowhere near Nami's level. Sailing safely through these hazardous waters demanded far more than a novice's knowledge.
"Roar!"
Without hesitation, Ren let out a thunderous roar. He stepped onto auspicious clouds and ascended into the sky. Like a streak of crimson lightning, he descended above the tumultuous sea.
"What in the world...?" Carina, the young woman steering the small sailboat while evading the pirates, was taken aback. Her wide eyes grew wider as she watched the colossal entity descending from the sky.
It had a majestic unicorn horn adorning its head, its red scales shimmering with a metallic sheen. Bathed in scorching flames, the creature's sturdy limbs rested upon auspicious clouds, suspending it in mid-air. Its dragon-scaled tail swayed, showcasing its astonishing power. From this great height, its fearsome, tiger-like eyes bore down upon Carina. Waves of searing heat washed over her, distorting the very air and creating an unbearable warmth.
"Ah? A Qilin... a Qilin!?" Carina exclaimed, her astonishment evident. Her gaping mouth betrayed her disbelief as she stared at the awe-inspiring mythical creature—a being that defied the laws of their world. "How can such a legendary creature exist?"
Carina had never anticipated this turn of events. Her affiliation with the Tiger Shark Pirates had been nothing more than a ruse. She had seduced those pirates infatuated with her, successfully diverting their attention while she pilfered the treasures from their ships. She had intended to make a quiet escape.
Yet, the pirates had been prepared for her deceit, plunging her into a perilous situation that now included a mythical being.
"What is that?"
"Are we being fooled?"
"Can a legendary creature truly exist...?"
"Gulp! It can traverse the skies..."
"Is it here to aid that rogue?"
"That woman, that vile thief, dares to deceive us and abscond with our treasure..."
"She won't escape our retribution!"
Carina wasn't alone in her astonishment. The pirate ship, hot on her heels, was equally bewildered. The members of the Tiger Shark Pirates stood agog, their voices a dissonant chorus of disbelief. All of them seethed with anger, grinding their teeth at Carina, the thief who had plundered their riches.
"Heh, this is a legendary rare beast..." Badr Geo, the captain of the Tiger Shark Pirates, whose bounty reached a staggering 73 million beli, fixated his gaze on the majestic unicorn in the distance. His eyes shimmered with unbridled greed. "If we capture it, we could fetch a king's ransom!"
"Young men, cease fire!" he ordered his crew. "Wait until we draw near, then aim at the creature and bring it down!"
"If we can capture it, our fortunes will be made! Hahahaha..."
However, before his subordinates could react, Badr Geo's laughter came to an abrupt halt. Fear gripped his heart, and beads of sweat formed on his forehead.
"Ah... ah..."
"What in blazes...?"
"Help!!!"
"Run!!!"
In an instant, several nautical miles separated them. The colossal fiery unicorn rode auspicious clouds through the sky. Its gaping maw opened wide, and a blazing breath surged forth.
"Hot breath!"
The intense flames dazzled the onlookers as a massive fireball hurtled through the sky. With searing temperatures, it distorted the very air.
The fiery projectile struck the pirate ship with pinpoint accuracy.
"Boom... boom..."
Fire erupted into the sky, consuming the ship and transforming it into a blazing inferno. Countless pirates were reduced to ashes before they could even utter a scream.
The once-formidable three-masted pirate ship disintegrated into countless fragments, with the wreckage ablaze. Thick plumes of smoke billowed into the air.
"Facing annihilation!" Ren, still in his unicorn form, paid no heed to the pirates he had just dispatched. He had no interest in hunting down those who might have miraculously survived. His signature move, Heat Breath, borrowed from Kaido of the Beasts, had proven highly effective.
While Ren's Observation Haki might not match the abilities he had encountered on Sky Island—where God Enel's "Mantra" had created an extensive, nearly omnipresent "heart net"—it was still highly specialized. It could easily cover an entire sea area and accurately perceive the strength and presence of individuals, even picking up faint sounds as soft as a whisper or a mosquito's buzz.
The pirates' machinations were an open book to his heightened senses. These unsuspecting foes likely had never encountered a Zoan user with a Mythical Beast ability, rarer than Logia. But with their plot now uncovered, there would be no mercy.